THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: World Bank has approved Rs 8 crore towards developing Pallimukku Medical College (3 km) and Rs 4 crore for Vellayambalam - Thampanoor (3 km) with emphasis on road safety.
This is expected to be a significant boost for the road dimensions of the capital city as both are considered to be the busiest stretches. One leads to the Government Medical College and the other Central Railway Station and KSRTC bus terminus.
A high-level meeting between the World Bank and PWD officials on Friday cleared the projects. A top PWD official said the two projects come under challenge funds.
“Usually the World Bank funds district ro-ads. When we proposed city road stretches, they sanctioned funds provided we followed guidelines, complete the estimate and also come up with a detailed project report,” he told DC.
They hope to submit the DPR within a fortnight. The roads will sport footpath, thematic paint, seating arrangements as prescribed by the road safety, Wi-Fi-enabled bus stops, bio-toilets etc. meeting the safe corridor standards.
Already the patchwork on the footpath of the Vellayambalam – Vazhuthacaud stretch has started with an administrative sanction of '85 lakh.
The PWD will also initiate maintenance wor-ks of the Pallimukku - Medical College road.
“It should be recalled that already bituminous macadam works had st-arted on the stretch. So it’s comparatively easy to upgrade the facilities, and now we need to follow norms prescribed by the Kerala Road Safety Authority,” he said.
After WB termed Ker-ala State Transport Project (KSTP) as a ‘problematic project’ for an inordinate delay, the latest development has co-me as a ‘blessing in disguise’ for the PWD.
The Punalur – Ponku-nnam stretch under the KSTP was originally designed to develop on public-private – partnership (PPP). But it was revised to engineering – procurement – construction (EPC) mode as none of the road contractors had expressed their interest in taking up the work.
On numerous occasions, the World Bank was reluctant to grant sanction to projects ow-ing to the inordinate delay in completing it.
